Hike: Thunder Lake (3 day)

Trip Details

Itinerary:

Day 0: Meet and go over gear, food, and itinerary. Plan on meeting for 1-1.5 hours the night before to make sure all gear is double-checked and your backpack is packed and ready to go for an early morning departure.  Note: Some companies include this day as part of the total trip length, thus making it a four-day trip. However, we only include it as Day 0 to build rapport with your Colorado local guide and help with your acclimation.

Day 1: This day starts on the southeastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail begins at 8500′ under Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pines and follows a beautiful stream for 2.5 -4 miles to our campsite. We will spend the afternoon lazing or fishing around the river and enjoying the serene setting underneath the canopy of evergreen trees. Elevation gain: 750-1300′. Distance: 2.5-4 miles depending upon exact campsite and 3-4 hours.

Day 2: Today the route continues hiking west along the long gone glacial moraine and wonderful and evergreen forest to the sub-alpine Thunder Lake. After arriving and setting up camp, we spend the afternoon exploring the Thunder Lake Basin with amazing views of the Mighty Mt. Alice. For those interested in fly-fishing, the inlet and outlet streams of Thunder Lake offer great fishing opportunities for the native Greenback Cutthroat Trout. Elevation gain: 750-1300′. Elevation gain: 750-1300′. Distance: 2.5-4 miles depending upon exact starting campsite and 3-4 hours.

Day 3: We have the option to take an early morning hike around the lake for great photo opportunities or try wetting your fly rod in Thunder Lake when the lake is at its calmest conditions. From Thunder Lake, we retrace day 1 and 2 and descend east to our starting trailhead on the southeastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Drive back to Estes Park, Boulder, or Denver. Elevation loss: -2110′. Distance: 7 miles and 6 hours.

Difficulty Description: 

Moderate – On moderate trips, you will hike 3-6 miles with a 25-35 pound backpack on maintained trails. Elevation gain/loss may be as much as but not more than 2250 feet. For a moderate trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in hilly or mountainous terrain with a light daypack. Altitudes range from 7,000 – 10,500’.

What to Bring: Sent with trip confirmation

Included: The services of a professional backpacking guide, Rocky Mountain National Park permit and back-country Colorado camping permits, transportation between Boulder and the wilderness trail heads, shuttle and extra shuttle staff for traverse, all food during the backpacking trip, a re-supply drop, if necessary, gear for water purification and cooking, bear canister, tent, medical kit, CB radio and contingency and emergency support.

Not included in our rates: Meals while in the front country (breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on the last day), laundry, alcoholic beverages, hotel overnight before your trip and at trip’s conclusion; personal equipment (sleeping bag, pad, backpack – these items are available to rent), and gratuities for your guide(s) – while this is at your discretion, the recommended amount is 20%.  If you want to add fly-fishing, cost is $100 extra per person (rod, reel, and flies for the trip and backpacking – angling guide)